The WoW Beginners Guide

It’s based off the popular RTS (real time strategy game) Warcraft III. What all of this means is that players can play as a character that can not only interact with a persistent game world but with other players over the Internet as well.

Q. Do I have to have the Internet to play?

Yes, you have to have the Internet; otherwise you won’t be able to play WoW.

Q. Do I need a new computer in order to play?

No, WoW works fine on most modern computers and many older computers. I’ve ran WoW on computers that were over 5 years old with the game running just fine.

Q. How much does it cost? Are there options other than credit cards?

It costs $14.99 USD (American) per month to play. You can buy game time cards (if you don’t have a credit card) from most major department stores, video game stores, and certain specialty retailers. You can find more about payment information on Blizzard’s website. Most debit cards with the VISA or Mastercard logo will work for payment for the subscription fee, however, care must be taken not to overdraw an account.

If you don’t want to pay each month you can immediately cancel your account after the subscription in order to avoid the next billing cycle. Your account will be good for the time period you have paid for.

Q. How do I install the game?

You can log into your Battle.net account and download an executable for Windows or Macintosh. The executable will guide you through the game’s installation process step by step. If you bought a physical copy of the game then place the CD or DVD into your computer’s CD/DVD/Blu-Ray drive and follow the on-screen prompts.

Q. Can I buy the game online?

Yes, it is available through the Blizzard store. Click here for more information.

Q. Do I need to be experienced with online games in order to do well in WoW?

WoW has content available for players of all skill types and has a very low learning curve. Even inexperienced players can do well in WoW.

Q. Do I need the expansions to play?

You do not need the expansions in order to play the game. You only need the original WoW. However, there are special combo deals to get the expansions and WoW at a discounted rate and the first expansion, The Burning Crusade, is required to make Draeneis and Blood Elves. Also note that without the expansions you will not be able to level up to the highest level and experience large portions of content available for the game. You can comfortably delay getting the expansions while you try the game out, however, you’ll need to pick them up at a later time if you continue to play.

Q. Is there a free trial?

Usually there is. You can click here for the WoW signup page to start a 10-day free trial. Friends can also invite you to the game so you can benefit from the Refer-A-Friend program.

Q. Can I be killed and looted by other players?

Yes and no. Your loot (items that you’ve obtained, equipment, gear, etc.) will never be taken from you no matter how you die. There is PvP (player vs. player) combat though and on certain server types (PvP and RP-PVP) players from different factions can battle each other in certain areas. There is a protection in place for low level characters in the form of safe zones (areas where the opposing faction cannot attack you as long as you remain in them).